Do family and community traditions hold the key to lasting happiness? (Daiga Ellaby/Unsplash)
Growing up in India, Tamanna Bembenek experienced vibrant traditions filled with family, food, and festivities. These celebrations brought joy, togetherness, and grounding through cultural rituals and community connections. In Mexico, there is similar cultural richness, particularly during religious holidays. Whether it’s sitting outside a church or observing community processions, the shared energy of faith and celebration resonates deeply.
This week on MND Perspectives, our subscriber-exclusive podcast, we look at how ceremony and tradition plays an important role in community cohesion and mental health.
MND Perspectives: The power of tradition in Mexico
Both India and Mexico highlight the power of traditions to foster social bonds, communal values, and a sense of belonging. Modern life often neglects these connections, contributing to loneliness and mental health challenges. Traditions — whether through family gatherings or shared creative pursuits — help anchor us. Inspired by a friend’s family tradition, Tamanna realized the importance of keeping life simple and prioritizing meaningful connections, proving that even small acts of togetherness can bring immense joy and grounding.
This podcast was produced using AI tools. All information collected and discussed in this episode was investigated, written and edited by human journalists. Compiled from a Mexico News Daily article by Tamanna Bembenek. Edited by Kate Bohné. Podcast produced by Chris Havler-Barrett.
Beautiful seculuded beaches like Playa Mayto are Cabo Corrientes' greatest draw. (Gobierno de Jalisco)
If Puerto Vallarta is the extroverted darling of Jalisco’s coastline, then Cabo Corrientes is its introspective, artsy sibling who prefers hidden beaches and rustic villages over bustling boardwalks.
Tucked just south of Puerto Vallarta, this off-the-beaten-path, ruggedly beautiful stretch of forest-meets-coast is a haven for travelers seeking pristine sands, dense jungles and secluded villages. Here’s everything you need to know to unlock the secrets of Cabo Corrientes— your new favorite hideaway.
A panga, pictured here, can take you to Cabo Corrientes’ many hidden beaches. (Embarcaciones Santa Elisa)
Getting to Cabo Corrientes: the road less traveled
Part of Cabo Corrientes’ magic lies in its remoteness. The region is accessible by boat or via a scenic jungle drive. Most adventurers start at Boca de Tomatlán, a buzzy fishing village just 30 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. From there, you can hop on a a small motorboat known as a panga to reach the secluded beaches that dot the coastline.
For those who prefer wheels over waves, the rugged roads leading to Cabo Corrientes are all part of the adventure. The journey winds through tropical landscapes and sleepy hamlets, dodging potholes and lumbering along behind the occasional semi-truck making its way towards the larger southern cities.
Pristine beaches: Paradise off the grid
When it comes to beaches, Cabo Corrientes feels like one of the final secrets left around Puerto Vallarta. Here are three shorelines that deserve a spot on your itinerary.
Playa Mayto: Stretching for miles, Mayto is the kind of beach where your footprints might be the only ones in the sand. With its golden shorelines and gentle waves, this is the perfect place for those who like their beach days served with solitude.
Tehuamixtle Bay. (Jasarmavet Garcia/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Playa Tehuamixtle (Tehua): Nestled in a picturesque cove, Tehua’s calm waters are made for snorkeling. The real star here, though, is the seafood. Local restaurants serve up ocean-fresh ceviche and oysters that are often said to be the best in Mexico.
Playa Corrales: Only reachable by boat or an ambitious overland followed by a hike, this coastal community rewards the adventurous traveler with jaw-dropping views and blissful isolation. All you need is a pocket full of pesos for some fresh seafood and beer on the sand. Restaurante Bar El Fury is one of the only options, but worth it for fresh oysters and epic sunset views.
Village charm: Mexico at its purest
Cabo Corrientes isn’t just about nature; its villages are a snapshot of Mexico before the tourism boom.
El Tuito: Perched in the mountains, El Tuito is a colonial town with cobblestone streets, adobe houses, and a laid-back vibe. Visit the town square for handmade cheeses and the region’s famous raicilla, a smoky agave spirit that rivals tequila. It’s the last “major” town before you set off into the more remote Costalegre, so be sure to fill up with gas and snacks if you’re continuing the drive south.
Chimo: If “off the grid” is your travel mantra, Chimo is your destination. This tiny fishing village feels untouched by time, offering a glimpse into a simpler way of life. The road into Chimo snakes up into the mountains before emptying out at the small seaside village. Plan for lunch at Restaurant Socios and spend the night at the hilltop Cabanas Linda Vista.
Where to stay: Eco-luxury in the wild
The charm of Cabo Corrientes lies in its balance of rustic beauty and understated luxury. Accommodations here prioritize sustainability without skimping on comfort.
Villa Lala: This adults-only hotel in Boca de Tomatlán offers just a handful of elegant suites with private terraces, stunning bay views and an infinity pool. Guests of Villa Lala have a front-row access to the dock where pangas zip in and out of the bay shuttling travelers to the more remote and secluded beaches and villages. Ask about the rooms that have their own plunge pools: they’re worth the splurge.
(Villa Lala)
Hotel Mayto: Overlooking a tranquil stretch of beach, this small resort is one of the best — and only — hotels in Mayto. Hotel Mayto is a collection of rooms plus a small campground makes up the property, including a pool and a beachfront restaurant.
Verana: Perched above Yelapa’s jungle-covered hills, Verana is an eco-chic retreat that blends indoor and outdoor living. The boutique hotel has open-air villas and ocean views, plus spa treatments, infinity pools and trails to nearby waterfalls.
Cabañas El Cielto: Overlooking the beaches south of Tehuamixtle, Cabañas El Cielto has cozy, astrologically-themed rooms overlooking ocean views. Guests enjoy fresh seafood from its hilltop restaurant, quiet sunsets and the peaceful rhythm of the waves.
Why Cabo Corrientes should be on your radar
In a world obsessed with curated Instagram moments, Cabo Corrientes stands out by staying refreshingly real. There are no sprawling resorts, no neon-lit nightclubs— just miles of natural beauty and a culture that feels untouched by time.
Here, your days are spent exploring deserted beaches, wandering cobblestone streets and savoring palm-sized oysters. Your nights? They’re all about starlit skies and the soothing sound of waves.
Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com
Queso Chihuahua is one of this state's many culinary gems. (Licon Dairy/Instagram)
The original cowboys came from Mexico, and the country still boasts abundant ranchlands across its northern states. The importance of these extensive cattle holdings is reflected in the region’s cuisine, with a love of beef and beef-based dishes from machaca con huevos and discada to carne asada being a prevalent feature of Northern cuisine.
Nowhere is this beefy goodness more evident than in Chihuahua, Mexico’s largest state by size. Chihuahua has a large cattle inventory and is the leading Mexican beef exporter to the U.S. Its livestock are also a major source of dairy, including two exquisitely melty Mexican cheeses: asadero and the eponymous Chihuahua cheese, a.k.a. queso menonita.
In 2023, the number of cattle in Mexico reached nearly 8.5 million heads. (Gobierno de México)
The iconic dish of Chihuahua
Chihuahua’s love of beef supports two different dried beef specialties: carne seca and machaca. The former is a variety of jerky made from salted beef dried in the sun as a preservative to keep the meat from spoiling, a technique also used in the state for items like fruits and grains due to Chihuahua’s short growing season. Machaca, meanwhile, is salted, marinated and cooked before being sundried and pounded flat.
The differences are subtle but bear noting when discussing the state’s signature dish, chile colorado con carne seca. Chile colorado is a kind of stew, although not necessarily served like one. In Chihuahua, the stew typically features guajillo chilis along with seasonings such as garlic, cumin and oregano, with the consistency thickened by wheat flour. The finished delicacy includes carne seca and potatoes and is often scooped into flour tortillas to make tacos.
Beef, beef and more beef
Given its abundant cattle, it should be no surprise that Chihuahua doesn’t make its barbacoa with lamb like they do, famously, in Hidalgo. They use beef. Nor do the state’s barbecue experts pit cook the meaty specialty, which like chile colorado con carne seca, is best served in taco form. Instead, they cook it in a pot.
If that sounds suspiciously like a stew, consider that the only thing residents seem to like more than eating beef is adding it to a stew… and then eating it. In addition to the iconic chile colorado, beef stew puchero is likewise a signature state plate. A year-round specialty, puchero utilizes a variety of beef cuts paired with veggies like cabbage, carrot, corn, potato and pumpkin.
Carne seca. (Gobierno de México)
The great burrito debate
According to legend and lore, the burrito was born against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, during the time of Pancho Villa and his famed División del Norte. Its progenitor is said to have been Juan Méndez, a vendor in Ciudad Juárez who wrapped meat, beans and other ingredients in oversized flour tortillas. This creation became known as the burro, or burrito, after the donkey Méndez rode on his daily route.
The legend appears to be just that. When Cuban exile author Félix Ramos y Duarte, living in Mexico, penned his “Diccionario de Mejicanismos” in 1895, the burrito was listed and accurately described. Its origin was given as Guanajuato, and while that may not be correct — Ramos y Duarte was not noted as an expert in Mexican culinary history and it has been theorized that he used burrito as a synonym for taco — it still seems the filling favorite was well-known long before Juan Méndez and his burro came upon the scene.
The wrap-style treats are indeed a specialty in Chihuahua — particularly in Villa Ahumada and Ciudad Juárez, Méndez’s old stomping ground — so the state remains one of the likelier birthplaces, even if its claims are never conclusively proven. Some reports have Méndez pioneering the dish in the late 19th century, which would better fit the known timeline.
The cheeses that pleases
Superb Chihuahua cheeses have been made since the Spanish introduced the cheesemaking process to Mexico in the 16th century. However, the most famous of the state’s pasteurized cow’s milk cheeses wasn’t invented for another four hundred years.
In 2022, Mexico’s Mennonite communities celebrated the 100th anniversary of their settlement in the country (Facebook)
Most of the country knows it as queso Chihuahua, but it’s also called queso menonita, after the Dutch and German Mennonite immigrants who began relocating to Chihuahua during the 1920s. By the end of that decade, the Mennonite population in the state was nearly 10,000. The signature cheeses began appearing widely in the 1930s and have elevated scores of Mexican delicacies ever since.
Asadero is semi-soft rather than semi-hard like Chihuahua cheese. But it, too, is a cow’s milk cheese that melts beautifully and makes almost any meal better. Most commonly associated with Villa Ahumada due to the artistry brought to this specially stretched and kneaded cheese in that municipality, it reaches its most delicious heights when served in quesadillas. The aforementioned stretching process, known as pasta filata in Italian, is similar to the one used for mozzarella and provolone.
The sotol boom
Chihuahua’s sotol, with over 800 years of history — and maybe far more — is among Mexico’s most ancient spirits. Derived from the shrub known in English as desert spoon, the liquor is produced somewhat like mezcal. The plant’s “heart” is removed, roasted and pressed before fermentation, followed typically by two to three distillations.
The desert spoon, which sotol is derived from. (Gobierno de México)
Although legally banned between 1944 and 1994, commercial sotol production has returned with a vengeance since, and is one of the drinks touted as “the next mezcal.” That seems unlikely, but sales are on the upswing, increasing 17% in 2022.
Sotol is traditional to Chihuahua, but not exclusive. The government-granted appellation of origin status allows for the spirit to be distilled in Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango. Just like they share many beef dishes Mexico’s northern states share this liquor too.
What’s for dessert?
Apple pie, of course. Chihuahua grows more apples than any other state in the country, accounting for a staggering 85% of the nation’s production.
As the year draws to a close, how has President Claudia Sheinbaum done in her first few months of power, and what challenges face her? (Wikimedia Commons)
President Claudia Sheinbaum has only been in Mexico’s top seat for three months, but the challenges she has faced in that time seem endless. Her diverse background — degrees in physics and energy engineering, a Nobel Peace Prize contribution, and tenure as Mexico City mayor — underscores her intellectual and political prowess. However, she faces immense challenges: Underinvestment in clean energy, PEMEX debt, and escalating cartel violence.
Globally, Sheinbaum must re-engage in international diplomacy amid strained U.S. relations under Trump’s second term and Canadian doubts about trade agreements. Domestically, she grapples with unfinished mega-projects, pressure to reform PEMEX, and a volatile security landscape. Her early decisions, like flying economy to the G20 summit, highlight her pragmatic approach, but numerous dilemmas demand poise, intellect, and resilience.
MND Deep Dive: A case study of President Sheinbaum
This podcast was produced using AI tools. All information collected and discussed in this episode was investigated, written and edited by human journalists. Compiled from a Mexico News Daily article by Travis Bembenek. Edited by Rose Eglhoff. Podcast produced by Chris Havler-Barrett.
Corn might be the basic foodstuff on which Mexico was built. Cacao was the bean on which it prospered. (Jonathan Pielmayer/Unsplash)
Who hasn’t fantasized about sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate during these chilly seasons, wrapped in warm blankets while watching the rest of the world shiver outside? Just imagine: there you are, cozy and snug, feeling a sense of superiority over those braving the icy wind outside.
Now, picture this scene without your cup of hot chocolate. If it weren’t for the domestication of cacao by Mesoamerican cultures thousands of years ago, we might be stuck sipping lukewarm water and pretending it’s a “treat” — and honestly, that would be downright depressing.
Cacao: A fountain of pleasure and happiness
Surprisingly, this does not taste sweet at all. (Rodrigo Flores/Unsplash)
Have you ever tasted pure cacao by itself? It has a profoundly bitter flavor that can be quite unpleasant, making it difficult to comprehend why Mesoamerican cultures revered this fruit. Cacao is originally from southeastern Mexico and Central America, where it was first domesticated over 4,000 years ago.
The Mayans developed a method for preparing a beverage by grinding cacao beans and mixing them with chili peppers, achiote, and other spices, then combining this mixture with water. They frothed the drink using a simple whisk, an early version of today’s molinillo, until it was as foamy as a fancy cappuccino. They would drink it with loud, unapologetic slurps. While slurping your Starbucks mocha might earn you some side-eye today, back then it was considered extremely good manners.
The cacao-based drink was exclusively reserved for nobility, warriors, and priests. It played a significant role in rituals and held considerable commercial value, as cacao beans served as currency among various Mesoamerican cultures. This beverage was enjoyed at diplomatic events, wedding ceremonies, and other festive banquets. Throughout different Mesoamerican civilizations, cacao fulfilled important religious, social, economic, and political roles — essentially making it the VIP guest at every ancient social gathering.
In today’s society, it may seem strange that seeds were once used as gifts, offerings, and even currency. However, our relationship with chocolate hasn’t changed much over time. How often do we give a box of chocolates as a present or try to win someone’s heart with a warm cup of cocoa? There is something about chocolate that continues to captivate us, as if it has a direct connection to the pleasure centers of our brains and stomachs.
With the arrival of the Spanish, cacao continued to be a prized and valuable product, although its original bitter flavor did not appeal to European tastes. After the Conquest, the Spanish sweetened the mixture with sugar and added vanilla. They also replaced water with milk, creating a beverage that quickly became popular among the colonial elite in New Spain, the Spanish back in Europe, and even some royal courts across Europe. One can imagine them thinking, “This is so enjoyable; we should definitely celebrate it by donning our powdered wigs!”
Chocolate’s popularity skyrocketed. In fact, it became so beloved that during religious services in New Spain, the congregation’s noisy slurping of chocolate got so out of hand that it had to be banned. Imagine the priest trying to deliver a sermon while everyone happily sipped and smacked their lips. One could argue that chocolate was literally interrupting their path to holiness, though it must have tasted divine.
Let’s fast-forward to the industrial era. The advent of machinery enabled the mass production of various chocolate-based sweets around the world. While these confections gained popularity throughout Mexico, traditional methods of preparing cacao, particularly in the south, did not fade away. People continued to grind cacao beans, mix them with spices, and serve that delightful, frothy beverage.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in enjoying chocolate in a more traditional and less caloric form. You can find it on many menus as “Mexican chocolate,” and several cafés in Mexico City and beyond serve it the old-fashioned way.
Modern Mexican cacao is filled full of artisanal joy. The southern regions of the country remain chocolate-producing hotspots. (Damien Sánchez Jesus/Cuartoscuro)
Pro tip: To experience a flavor closer to the original cacao beverage, ask for your Mexican chocolate to be made with water instead of milk. Additionally, using water helps preserve the nutritional and antioxidant properties of cacao, and it may even enhance your mood and feelings of euphoria. If you find yourself in an argument, try drinking a cup of Mexican chocolate; we don’t have the cientific proof, but we think it might just improve the situation.
Where to find the best chocolate
Thanks to globalization, quality chocolates can now be found worldwide. However, if you’re seeking authentic and traditional flavors, focus on bars from the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco. Don’t overlook the often-neglected state of Campeche, which also offers delightful chocolate experiences. While you may not encounter big, flashy signs, exploring these regions can reveal hidden gems that keep the ancient chocolate-making tradition alive.
Is Chocolate Abuelita good quality?
Friends, let’s put aside any snobbery regarding traditional pre-Hispanic chocolate. Tablillas de chocolate, such as Chocolate Abuelita, Ibarra, and Mayordomo, are absolute classics. Many of us grew up enjoying these brands, and they continue to be delicious and comforting. They bring back fond memories of family gatherings and cozy mornings.
Closing remarks
Make yourself a cup of Mexican hot chocolate, and if you take a noisy slurp from your cup, remember that you’re sipping on centuries of history — and enjoying it! Pair your hot chocolate with churros; this is the most typical and delightful combination. Be sure to dip the churro into the hot chocolate, as that’s the proper way to enjoy them.
Finally, I have a challenge for you: step out of your comfort zone and try hot chocolate with chili. I know, I know. It sounds potentially risky for your stomach and mixing hot cocoa with chili may seem unappealing, but this was a favorite beverage of the pre-Hispanic elite. Who knows? It might just become one of your favorites too!
María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.
January through March is whale watching season in Baja California Sur. These are the best spots to get a glimpse of them! (Baja Expeditions)
If you’re looking for the best time to go whale watching, not just in Los Cabos, but around Baja California Sur (BCS), the months to target are January, February and March. It isn’t the entirety of the season. However, during these months bucket-list travelers have the best chance to see blue whales in Loreto, gray whales in several locations along the Pacific Coast and humpbacks and other species in Los Cabos.
Whale watching in Loreto
January, February and March are the very best months for whale watching in BCS. (Brigitte Werner/Pixabay)
This targeted schedule, it must be noted, is only because of the brevity of the blue whale season in Loreto, which lasts from January through March. But if you’re going to go whale watching, don’t you want to see the largest creature ever to have lived on Earth? These 200-ton cetaceans can weight as much as 33 elephants and are also quite mysterious and shy.
The shyness is understandable. By the middle of the 20th century, blue whales had been hunted almost to extinction. They’ve since been protected internationally and enjoy a double layer of national protection in Mexico, where the largest known population group of the species comes to breed each year. Not only are there strict guidelines for the sizes of boats that can approach them, the number of passengers they can carry and the distance they must maintain from the whales, but their breeding grounds are within Bahía de Loreto National Park.
Other whale species can also be seen in Loreto, but the blue whales are the primary attraction.
Whale watching in Los Cabos
Whale-watching season runs from mid-December to mid-April annually. (Lee Sommers/Pixabay)
The humpback is king in Los Cabos, where the whale-watching season runs from mid-December to mid-April annually. Yes, many of the same species of whales seen in Loreto can be seen in Los Cabos as they make their way to shallow water coves and bays around the state to breed; beaked, bryde’s, fin, gray, minke, orca, pilot, sei and sperm whales, to name a few.
But the humpbacks are the most commonly seen locally and that’s good for tour operators. Why? Because 40-ton humpbacks engage in some incredible behaviors, most notably breaching for epic splashdowns. No, this is not to put on a show – although it is awe-inspiring – but rather is a communication device that other whales can hear. The bigger the splash, the further the message travels.
Of course, that’s not the only way whales communicate. They also have a language with syntax and grammar, achieved through clicks and vocalizations. Often called whale songs, these languages are specific to species, with accents varying regionally. If you’re interested in this fascinating aspect of whale behavior, choose a tour that offers hydrophones so you can listen in.
Gray whale watching on the Pacific coast of BCS
The Baja California Peninsula has seen the birth of 25 thousand gray whales in the past few years. (Andrew Riedel/Pixabay)
Gray whales are the main attraction on the Pacific Coast side of BCS, thanks to three primary breeding spots: Bahía Magdalena, Lagunas San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre, the latter two of which are within the protected Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.
It was reported last year that gray whale numbers had increased significantly in the Vizcaíno Reserve during a single year, a very positive sign. Even better, a greater rise has been generally noted in the Pacific gray whale population, which has climbed by 33% since 2022. Over 19,000 gray whales are estimated to be in the Pacific now, with some 25,000 gray whales being born in BCS alone over the past three decades.
That’s great news for this remarkable species, which makes what is thought to be the longest mammalian migration, traveling from Arctic summer feeding grounds to warm winter breeding grounds in BCS, where they remain from late December to April each year. In fact, a gray whale holds the record for the longest whale migration, traveling over 14,000 miles round-trip between Russia and Cabo San Lucas in 2011.
Gray whale watching in Magdalena Bay
Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) travel to the warm waters of Mexico to have their babies during winter. (Pixabay)
Crispin Mendoza, also known as the “Whale Whisperer,” is the godfather of whale watching in Magdalena Bay, having begun taking out tourists as far back as 1970. That was two years before the first whale-watching protections were put in place by the Mexican government. Today, his family-owned company, Magdalena Bay Whales, remains one of the best local tour operators.
Whether it is simply 50 years of positive interactions, gray whales are often extraordinarily friendly in BCS. It is the breeding season after all, with plenty of 2,000-pound newborn bundles of joy, and it probably helps that while these whales are in their breeding grounds they’re safe from predators like orcas, who avoid such shallow water. However, that doesn’t make it any less special when these enormous creatures approach pangas and invite interactions.
It’s not something that can be scripted or expected. But it does happen occasionally, making experiences in Magdalena Bay and the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve far more intimate than those in Los Cabos or Loreto. But all rate as bucket-list adventures.
Whale watching in the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve
Vizcaíno, a federally protected biosphere reserve since 1988, is an amazing place, and not just because of the whales. With over 9,800 square miles, it’s the largest wildlife refuge in Mexico (indeed, in all of Latin America) and a sanctuary for a wide variety of species, from desert foxes and the peninsular pronghorn antelope to endangered sea turtles and 192 different kinds of birds.
During the winter months, though, gray whales and their calves are the focus of most visitors. Of course, it bears noting Magdalena Bay and other BCS sites aren’t exactly Los Cabos when it comes to resort and lifestyle options. Neither is Loreto, for that matter, but at least it has the superb Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto resort and world-class golf at TPC Danzante Bay.
However, some adventure companies offer package deals, with whale-watching excursions in Los Cabos and Pacific Coast lagoons like San Ignacio. Baja Expeditions’ Ultimate Whales package, for instance, is an eight-day trip that starts from Cabo San Lucas after an afternoon of whale watching, then proceeds to La Paz for swimming with whale sharks and continues on Laguna San Ignacio in the Vizcano Biosphere Preserve for camping and gray whale encounters. Then, it’s back to Cabo.
Naturally, such packages are expensive. But you aren’t obliged to book your own hotels or motels along the way. Everything is taken care of, from hotels, yachts and glamping to food and drinks— unforgettable moments, too.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
Mexico News Daily is cutting spammy Google Ads to improve our audience's reading experience. (Shutterstock)
Two years ago, when we purchased Mexico News Daily, one of the first things we did was reduce the amount of advertising on the site by 70%. We didn’t make the decision because MND had more ads than other news sites, but rather because we felt that many ads, especially those that popped up or those that dragged along with you as you scrolled down, were really annoying to the reader.
From a financial perspective, it was a painful decision, as at that point more than half of MND’s total revenue came from these types of ads. As you might imagine, the ads that most annoy you are by far also the most lucrative ones. Sexual dysfunction cures, toenail fungus treatments, dietary supplements and chest-enhancing products (for men and women) are precisely the ads that make the most money. But most people don’t want to see them, and they are created in a way that is meant to get your attention and distract you from reading the article so you click on the ad.
Do you skip over ads like these? Now you won’t have to. (Mexico News Daily)
Since day one, our mission has been to build an MND that we would be proud to have our name attached to, and that meant making the painful decision to remove the total number of ads from the site. I remember how nervous we were about the financial hit we would take when we made that decision, but we knew it was the right thing to do. We wanted to send a strong message to readers that we were serious about not only creating great content, but also an enjoyable experience for the reader. When we did it, I told the team that I hoped we would keep growing subscribers to the point at which we could eliminate ads entirely.
Since that decision, Mexico News Daily has worked with four different advertising agency partners (always using the Google Ad Manager platform), to try to improve the quality of the remaining ad blocks that we had. To say the least, it has been a very frustrating experience. Google has done an outstanding job at completely dominating the digital ad world, which results in media companies like MND (and the agencies in the industry) having to resort to increasingly (from my perspective) terrible ads to continue to earn ad revenue.
What do I mean by “terrible ads”? We have increasingly been seeing ads on our site (placed by the agencies through Google Ad Manager) that are very deliberately trying to trick the reader. Ads that say “Click here to continue” or “Click here for customer service” or “Click here for a rebate coupon.” All of these ads falsely and deliberately give the impression to our readers that they are MND ads, only to take readers to another site that tries to trick them further into giving credit card or personal information. We obviously hate those types of ads, and despite many, many attempts to block them, they keep popping up with different URLs (website addresses). It is a never-ending game of wack-a-mole and it gets more difficult each day as the ads become increasingly sophisticated, thanks to artificial intelligence tools. So as a result, we decided to take proactive action.
It is with that backdrop that we are announcing today that MND is removing all external advertisements from our site, effective today. We want to be able to control all of the content on our site and ensure that our readers are never being tricked into clicking on something that is not part of MND. Our guiding principles are a great reader experience as well as one in which our readers can trust any link on our site.
Mexico News Daily owners Travis and Tamanna Bembenek. (Courtesy photo)
This decision, of course, is yet another financial hit to our business, as we will now be reliant exclusively on subscription revenue to pay our team members, fund our software expenses (we need over 30 back-office software subscriptions to make MND run smoothly), and invest in growth initiatives. Tamanna and I still have yet to take one peso of salary in over two years, but we are confident that this is the right strategy. There will be short-term pain, but we will continue to build a better MND.
Our team takes very seriously our role to provide you with an apolitical, unbiased, and balanced front-row seat to Mexico across our news and features sections. It is a very exciting time for the world and for Mexico, and we are honored to be a trusted, reliable source of news and information for you.
Thank you for supporting MND and please consider sharing MND with family and friends so they get to know us as well. We make a great Christmas gift! 🙂
Travis Bembenek is the CEO ofMexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.
Microchipping pets in Mexico is not a thing. So, what do you do if you lose your four-pawed friend? (Adam Griffith/Unsplash)
“But isn’t she chipped?” my friends and family back home asked me when I told them about my lost dog.
No, she wasn’t chipped. And while I can’t speak for all places in Mexico, I can for my own city. Microchips in pets are not a “thing” here. Even if I’d had my dog microchipped somewhere else, no one where I live would even have a scanner to read it.
Doggie day cares are the safe way to go when you need to travel and your pet can’t come along. (Osvaldo Florez/Unsplash)
So how did she get lost in the first place?
Now that my partner has started working in a nearby city, I travel quite a bit to see him. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed where he’s renting, nor is the place suitable for a pet. Until we can find something better, I’ve simply got to find someone else to care for her when I’m away.
One option is a pensión, a doggie care facility where she can stay. These can come in all shapes and sizes, and aren’t all that expensive by U.S. standards. Sadly, I’m acclimated to Mexican prices, and 250 pesos a night adds up quickly when it’s frequent! It will do in a pinch, but like many hopelessly soft gringas, I’d so much rather she stay with someone she knows and trusts.
So when a friend who works from home offered to keep her, I breathed a sigh of relief and packed her little doggy bag.
In Mexico, doggie day cares are known as “pensiones”. (Joshua Chun en Unsplash)Their time together was nice. Each day, I got cute photos and videos of Lola, lounging comfortably in her home-away-from-home. On the morning I was set to pick her up, though, my friend called me, shaken.
There had been fireworks early that morning. Because as we all know, saints love morning fireworks, and this was not going to be the year we disappointed Saint Jude!
Here’s what happened: my friend briefly left Lola on her enclosed front patio while she took her daughter to catch the bus. When she got back, Lola was gone, having slipped through the wider bars that had seemed much too high for her to reach.
But a panicked dog can jump to great heights. Oh no.
What to do if your dog gets lost in Mexico
Talking to neighbors and those in charge of nearby business is a good way to go when losing your dog. (Foto de Randy Laybourne en Unsplash)
Still, we tried. Had someone picked her up? Doubtful, as she’s quite skittish around strangers. Was she hiding in someone’s yard, or a park or one of the other million possible places she could fit? Perhaps.
Was she using her magical doggy nose to slowly but surely make her way back home, many kilometers away? This I felt sure of, but it was impossible to know what route she’d have taken, and the streets she would have had to cross were formidable.
My friend and I got to work. We wandered the surrounding area for hours over three different mornings. We printed Lost Dog signs and put them up. We knocked on doors and talked to the people who notice things that go on in neighborhoods: the merchants, the trash collectors, the older people who sit on their porches all day. We posted on Facebook’s many local lost pet groups, over and over again. My friend paid for a lost dog service that promised to use geography-specific targeted ads to get the word out in the areas she was likely to be. I cried in despair and worry more than once.
Lost dogs often get anxious and confused, especially in neighborhoods they don’t feel familiar with. (Redd Francisco en Unsplash)
On the third day driving back home, what my religious friends call a miracle and my atheist friends call a wonderful coincidence occurred: I spotted Lola on the street.
Miraculously — I’m going with miracle — as I was driving back home in tears, I looked to my right. There was my little dog, crossing the street perpendicular to the one I was on. I quickly pulled into an X24’s tiny parking lot and rolled down the window to call to her. She looked around, confused, and finally spotted me when I opened the car door. She hopped in, and we had a happy, tearful reunion in front of a very confused X24 employee.
Now that all this has happened, I’m prepared: Lola has a new collar that never comes off, and an AirTag on her collar, as well. For good measure, she has her regular metal tag with my phone number on it, too.
There might not be any microchips, but this dog is not getting lost again. Although I do still need to figure out what to do with her when I have to leave town.
Mexico's recent textile tariffs were a point of discussion at President Sheinbaum's Friday press conference. (Presidencia)
Among the topics President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her final press conference of the week were Mexico’s new textile tariffs, the Senate’s approval of the controversial judicial reform bill in September and the still-incomplete Mexico City-Toluca rail project.
She also told reporters that she won’t hold morning press conferences on Dec. 24 and 25.
New tariffs not aimed at China, Sheinbaum says
Sheinbaum bluntly declared that the new tariffs on clothing and textiles announced by the federal government on Thursday are not specifically aimed at China, even though that appeared to be the case.
“Some media outlets are today interpreting [the imposition of the tariffs] as if it were a message to China. No,” she said.
When a reporter suggested that the aim of the tariffs was to please Donald Trump, Sheinbaum said that wasn’t a motivation for the protectionist measure either.
“It has to do with the protection of the national [textile] industry. It’s part of what we call Plan Mexico, which we’re going to present at the start of January,” she said.
Sheinbaum said the tariffs were designed to protect Mexico’s textile businesses from general competition, not just from cheap Chinese imports. (Alan de la Cruz/Unsplash)
“… There are a lot of family companies — they’re not even large companies — that have been working on the manufacture of products and creating their own brands for decades,” Sheinbaum said.
Many such businesses (whose products have to compete with cheap Asian imports) have shut down in recent years due to “the entry of products” from abroad, she said.
Sheinbaum noted that some textile products — as Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard explained on Thursday — are exempt from “certain” importation taxes on the proviso that they are used as inputs for final goods to be exported. However, “in reality” they are imported as final goods to be sold in Mexico, she said.
In light of the situation, the government announced Thursday that some textile products won’t be allowed to be imported at all.
The new tariffs ended tax exemptions for some textile products that were being abused, Sheinbaum said. (Yuen Tao Chun/Pexels)
Sheinbaum said that the sale in Mexico of textile products that were imported as inputs for products destined for export is “in reality a trick.”
“And who does it affect? All these family companies that provide a lot of employment,” she said.
“So what was done yesterday was to avoid this trick being used. If you look at it, it is in fact a form of corruption,” Sheinbaum said.
“… Asian products” are not specifically “the issue,” she said.
President asserts there was no ‘negotiation’ with PAN senator who voted in favor of judicial reform
As the ruling Morena party and its allies are one vote short of a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate, they have to convince at least one opposition party senator to vote with them in order to approve constitutional reforms. In the case of the judicial reform, that senator was Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez, who was accused of being a “traitor” at the time and was ultimately expelled from the National Action Party (PAN).
As Mexico News Daily reported when the Senate approved the controversial judicial reform in September, there was widespread speculation that Yunes Márquez and his father, former Veracruz governor Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, reached a deal with Morena that would result in the withdrawal of criminal charges against the two men and Yunes Márquez’s brother Fernando.
Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez (at right) was expelled from the PAN party after he voted in favor of a constitutional reform to radically reshape Mexico’s judiciary. (Cuartoscuro)
Yunes Linares, who stood in as a “substitute senator” for his son the day before the judicial reform vote, also indicated he would vote in favor of the reform if presented with the opportunity.
On Friday, Sheinbaum said it was her understanding that supporting the judicial reform was a decision that Yunes Márquez and Yunes Linares reached on their own without any discussion with Morena.
“It has been said that it was to … remove investigation files [against them]. … It was their decision to vote in favor of the reform to the judicial power. There was no negotiation,” she said, also dismissing the suggestion that a deal involving the Yunes’ defection from PAN to Morena was reached.
“I’m not going to get involved in that issue,” she said.
Project to complete CDMX-Toluca train line is ‘advancing,’ Sheinbaum says
Sheinbaum noted that the final stretch of the Toluca-Mexico City passenger railroad is not yet complete, even though ex-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador said earlier this year that the section between the Santa Fe station and the Observatorio station would be finished by the end of the year.
“One part to get to Observatorio is missing,” she said, referring to the Mexico City terminus, where a subway station is also located.
“The project is advancing. At Observatorio the entire station has to be integrated with Line 1 of the Metro,” Sheinbaum said.
“We’re waiting for a bridge as well, it’s a suspension bridge that is being built before the entry to the fourth section of Chapultepec [Park], she said. “… They’re still working [on it].”
¡El Tren Insurgente es un sueño!
Imperdible el video del pequeño que presentó la presidenta @Claudiashein y se volvió viral al viajar en el @TrenInsurgente.
“Está muy bonito, puede volar. Siento que estoy en un sueño porque estoy en un tren que vuela”. pic.twitter.com/X2duieE5wd
Sheinbaum didn’t say when the entire railroad — construction of which began a decade ago — would be finished. Trains are currently running between Zinacantepec, a municipality that adjoins Toluca, and Santa Fe on Mexico City’s west side. Much of the railroad is elevated.
Sheinbaum noted that she recently saw a “very cute video” on social media of a boy riding the train, known as El Insurgente.
In the video — which the president played near the end of her press conference — the boy declares that the train “can fly” and says that riding on it is “a dream.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Many of the companies affected are based in the Gulf of Mexico's port cities, where they provide goods and services to keep offshore drilling fields. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)
Some suppliers and service providers for state oil producer Pemex are facing severe financial difficulties as the beleaguered company has fallen behind on payments.
Several businesses have been meeting with Pemex officials to address the mounting debt, but as of Thursday no payment plans had been announced, according to El Economista newspaper.
Pemex local suppliers in Ciudad Carmen, Campeche, protest lack of payment by the state oil company. (Petroleros al Aire)
“I can confirm that no payments have been made nor is there a tentative date for payments to be made,” one oil drilling company rep told El Economista. “It appears possible that we might not get paid until February.”
Oil and Gas Magazine reported on Wednesday that Pemex canceled a Monday meeting with Senate Energy Committee members during which the debt to subcontractors was to be discussed.
Committee member Óscar Cantón Zétina, a senator from the oil-producing state of Tabasco, expressed a desire to reschedule the meeting in the near future. Before the congressional session went into recess last week, Cantón had presented a point of order demanding that Pemex’s debt with suppliers be made public.
Earlier efforts to reduce its overall debt of nearly US $100 billion have done little to ease the debt owed to suppliers which now sits at around US $20.5 billion, according to El Economista.
On Nov. 28, President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered a review of the debt owed to suppliers, saying that a variety of payment mechanisms were being studied and refined, though she provided no details.
That same day, it was reported that Pemex had placed a freeze on new contracts with service providers.
The news agency Bloomberg News reported that an internal company document described the action as a temporary halt by Pemex’s exploration and production arm that applied to new agreements with contractors that had not been previously formalized.
With nearly US $100 billion in debt, Pemex is the most indebted oil company in the world. (Refinería Olmeca-Dos Bocas/X)
A Pemex statement explained that it would be performing an analysis of pending deals coming due before year-end and that select contracts deemed necessary could still be signed.
The Finance Ministry is reportedly working “to enlist a group of banks to provide Pemex with financing to pay off the company’s debts to service providers,” Bloomberg reported, but such loans may come too late for some suppliers.
Suppliers in Campeche sound off
Mexico Business News reported on Dec. 3 that business leaders in the state of Campeche sounded the alarm over the delayed payments from Pemex.
Many local companies are having difficulty meeting year-end obligations, such as employee bonuses, social security contributions, taxes and payments to Infonavit, Mexico’s public housing agency.
Some of the debt dates back to 2023, El Economista reported. Several businesses face threats of asset seizure due to their own unpaid loans, Mexico Business News reported, and the situation is so dire that an organization called “The Broad Front of Subcontractors Serving Pemex” was formed.
The Front staged several demonstrations in November, threatened to blockade a bridge in Ciudad del Carmen and announced a protest march for Friday.
Commercial associations have tried both public requests and collective organization to pressure Pemex into paying its debts to suppliers. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)
Around the same time, Reuters reported, the Mexican Association of Oil Service Companies (Amespac) sent a letter to Pemex asking the company to pay its members overdue debts totaling US $5.1 billion. The association represents some of the most important oil service providers in Mexico.
Amespac argued that just setting up a schedule “would provide certainty for operations and allow companies to fulfill their commitments.”
“This situation has caused an adverse effect on our finances and a negative impact in the areas where we operate,” it wrote.
The financial difficulties impact a variety of businesses, including multinationals such as Baker Hughes and Halliburton.
Small companies also have been hit by the debt crisis. El Economista reported that a Campeche helicopter company that transports oil workers to offshore rigs closed down this month.
In the state of Tamaulipas, state Energy Development Minister José Ramón Silva said roughly 700 local businesses have been affected, including 400 companies that had bid on contracts or applied to be formally registered as suppliers.
